Leontien Ceulemans

Her broadcast career started remarkably early. At age three she made her radio debut on the AVRO children's program Kleutertje luister, and she later sang with the AVRO Children's Choir. An early TV appearance followed at age eleven. Initially drawn to dance, she trained at the Scapino Ballet and performed on shows like Johnny en Rijk, Zaterdagavondakkoorden, and the pop program Moef ga-ga. She then trained as an actress and moved into theatre.

By the 1970s, she had a varied career in acting, presenting, and voice work. Her TV presenting debut came in 1972 with the VARA pop music show Popzien. She acted in productions such as Vader en Zoon, Zwerven met Swiebertje, the 1975 film and TV adaptation Oorlogswinter, and the children's series De holle bolle boom. She is best remembered as the first presenter of the NOS children's news program Jeugdjournaal. She helped develop the show as an editor and presenter before its launch, and presented it for nearly two years until conflicts with the editorial staff led to her departure. She continued with guest roles in series like Goede tijden, slechte tijden, plus voice-over work for Kindernet and animated productions. Around 1991 she appeared in a pictorial for Playboy (Netherlands). Later she presented and produced arts and culture programs on Classic FM and worked on the English-language European Business Weekly.

Ceulemans died on 28 July 2022 at age 70 in the Rosa Spier Huis in Laren, after a prolonged illness following a fall. She had withdrawn from public life in her later years due to health issues. In keeping with her wishes, she donated her body to science, so there was no traditional funeral. She was a natural redhead with green eyes and an average build.